IFC to Organize Marketplace Grant Competition

The Financial Times Limited. Asia Africa Intelligence Wire. All material subject to copyright. Accra Mail (Ghana) (c) 2008 All rights reserved

About twenty out of 54 finalists who entered the Development Marketplace Grant Competition (DMGC) would be awarded $200,000 each at the first Lighting Africa 2008 Global Business Conference, scheduled for Accra from May 6 - 7, this year.

The DMGC is a programme which seeks to award up to $200,000 each to about 15 to 20 finalists for presenting the most innovative and viable ideas for designing, developing, and delivering modern off-grid lighting products and services to Sub-Saharan Africa.

In a statement to the Ghana News Agency by the organisers on Tuesday, said 400 proposals from 54 countries, including 38 African countries, were received in the first round, creating an extremely competitive applicant pool.

Of the 54 finalists in the current second stage of the competition, about 15 to 20 winners will be selected and announced after final proposals have been presented to an international panel of jurors during the Lighting Africa 2008 Global Business Conference.

The IFC statement explained that based on the premise that a sustainable market is one that grows the local economy the competition required that each project team include a partner organization based and operating in Africa.

On the Lighting Africa Conference and Development Market Place Competition for Off-grid Lighting in Africa: Lighting Africa 2008; seeks to bring together global players from the lighting industry, international and domestic financial institutions.

Others are private developers, government agencies, non-governmental organizations, and international and bilateral development agencies.

The event is, unequivocally, a defining moment for all who are interested in shaping the off-grid lighting market in Africa.

The IFC statement explained that the first of its kind, Lighting Africa 2008 would give participants the unique opportunity to connect with global entrepreneurs from around the world, gain key insights and exchange knowledge, view the latest technological innovations, and meet the people whose lives would be transformed by their efforts.

In an interview with the GNA, Mr. Cyril Kattah, IFC Programme Manager for the project said the conference would also provide modalities to shield African consumers from poor-performing lighting products and avoid market spoilage for the industry.

 Lighting Africa is conducting a wide range of activities to enhance consumer awareness, and boost confidence in new lighting products and services," he said.

These activities ranged from the testing of solar lanterns in the market against existing quality standards, to the development of specifications for LED-based lanterns and to the development of a proposed "fair trade" quality seal, in collaboration with the industry.

Mr Kattah said fuel-based lighting produces carbon dioxide, a major contributor to GHG emissions. A kerosene lantern used for four hours per day is estimated to release more than 100 kg of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere over the course of a year.

With the objective of reducing GHG emissions and, at the same time, enhancing the financial viability of modern off-grid lighting projects which substitute fuel-based lighting, Lighting Africa is helping develop both project- and program-based methodologies.

Mr Kattah said the project also focused predominantly on reducing market entry costs, providing information about African markets and consumers, and developing an enabling institutional and regulatory framework.

Lighting Africa's commitment to support the private sector is carried out through various initiatives, including: Market research: The Lighting Africa Program was officially launched in September 2007 aimed at facilitating the development of a robust off-grid lighting market in Africa, supporting business development and increasing economic opportunities.

The Lighting Africa 2008 conference is designed to increase awareness of the significant market opportunities for improving lighting products and services and to link global investors with local suppliers and service providers.

It will also promote entrepreneurial networking, share market intelligence, business, and financing model structures for lighting projects, showcase innovative products, and promote business.

The Lighting Africa project is supported by multiple donors, key partners include: the Global Environment Facility; the World Bank's Public-Private Infrastructure Advisory Facility (PPIAF) and Energy Sector Management Assistance Program (ESMAP); Good Energies Incorporated; the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Partnership; the European Commission; and the Governments of Norway, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom.

Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media. (allafrica.com)